The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-08-26

Il
regular attendant q the sewing society
than Miss Persis; and she did more
than any two Of the ladies'. ~ she sat
silently sewing while the rest worked
and talked the while about Mr.. Peters
now house. or new kind 81 crochet.
or q particularly toothsome receipt for
nut-cake. or on any Of the numerous
topics 81 village sewing society. The
poor Western missionary may have
found cause To bless the labors Of Miss |
Persis; but the poor about the town
knew her charities only as they came
In the general church collection or in
cast-of garments sent by the minis
ter's wife.
There was poor Mrs. Turner, who
was Miss Pcrsis' nearest neighbor,
and who was left widow with eight
little children to bring up. Miss
Persis wished that she could do some
thing for her; she thought II would be
a 'sreal treat" to sew for those
children-but she never dared 10 offer
| to- She wouldn't have known what to
say.
| Miss Persis used to watch the chill
drcn as they passed her house on their
way TO school. She had peculiar
skill IN making certain old-fashioned
kind Of molasscs cooky. with scol-
loped edges. and she always kept Jar
full Of them in hopes that sometimes
she might find chance to give them
to the children. She never did find
the chance. and as she could not eat
them all herself. nor commit the
wastcful sin Of throwing away good
things. she used. after they had grown
somewhat dry. to take them in . paper
bag and 60 out on very lonely coun-
try lane. when there was mild and
amiable COW tcthered and feed the COW
with the scolloped cookies. She thought
that IL any one should come along she
might pretend she was gathering
berries. A great many buckle berries
grew in this particular lane; and that
was one reason why Miss Persis picked
ont that cow.
The cooky jar was always kept re-
plenished; but she never was able to
I offer its contents to the children.
} Once. indeed. the Turner baby fell down
right in front OF her gate, and Miss
} Persis. on the impulse Of the moment,
opened her front door and hurried
! down the walk to pick him up. But
when the baby saw gaunt Miss Persia
, stalking like grenadier toward him.
} he cried louder than ever, and forget
) ting his bump, ran home as fast as hs
. could move his fat red legs
don't suppose should ever hav'
e known any thing about this side o
e Miss Persis II it had not been for ~
: accident; and this was the way II hap
pcncd.
:. Iwent on an errand to Miss Persis-
n not sent this time. for l had grown up
r and the errand was Of my own max
y inr. Miss Persis had in her garden
9 rather uncommon variety Of hollyhock
and as pridcd myself upon my ow
e assortment Of hollyhock. was yer
: anxious to get some seeds Of this one
h unique in the neighborhood. So
4 mustered up my courage 10 60 an
g ask for some. l went to look at m
n holly hooks before started. just to SC
!. how very much l wanted this new on
y among them. for l had TO cncouraR
! myself. A l walked along. switchin
4 the bushes at the side Of the road wit
) little stick and humming = tune.
+ tried 10 pretend didn't mind" but
. did, dreadfully. for l had never lost m
n childish fear Of Miss Persis.
: When reached the yard, there wei
k the hollyhocks; 50. keeping them
g nv sight by way Of encouragement.
z walked up the path and pulled the bel
d To my dismay. the rusted wire brok'
r. and the knob came of in my hans
ID This was awful 1t was bad enoug
,c to ask for the seeds, but how could
ever apologize for the dslocaticn
"a the bell knob But 1t had to be don
he SO. trying TO be brave. ! wake
III around to knock mt the kitchen door.
O Though the door was wide opc
n Miss Persis did not hear my step
&c She was sitting in rocking chair. h
as face half turned away from the doc
Id bending slightly forward, and holdir
ed on one arm doll!
'e- stood transfixcd on the doorston
te and Miss Persis. glancing up. start
en- from her chair. and. after lookii
he wildly around for some place TO his
As herself. remained with her eyes iix'
Of on mine. | tried to say somcthi'
Il about the bell knob and my erran
ISIS but Miss Persis stood speeches., =
m. face working convulsivcly and a.
Of red flush creeping up TO her hair
Of Forgetting myself in my pity Tor
nj terrible shame and confusion, we
* in. and, stepping up to her. put :
re arm around her waist. She gripp
in the arm with her hard hand, and, wi
Ior dry, choked sob. sank into the roc
IN ing-chair.
re; II love dolls" ! said, land what
cs, lovely one this is!'
do you?' said Miss Pcrsis, W
;ss lust a faint look Of relief. ~ thous
dc you'd think Twas crazy-but you do
II III